Agit Kabayel is now clear: “Germany’s Boxer of the Year” will fight China’s Zhilei Zhang for the WBC Interim World Championship on February 22, 2025.
A new attempt for Agit Kabayel towards a world championship fight: On February 22, Germany’s heavyweight hopeful will box against China’s Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia. The “interim” title of the WBC is at stake in the duel.
Kabayel, who is undefeated in 25 professional fights (including 17 knockouts), secured his status as the WBC’s number one challenger in May with a knockout win over Frank Sanchez. This is now at stake in the fight against “Big Bang” Zhang (27-2-1, 22 knockouts). The 41-year-old Chinese was last in the ring in June, when he knocked out former world champion Deontay Wilder in round five in Riyadh.
WBC boss Sulaiman authorizes fight
If the 31-year-old from Bochum wins this duel, he would cement his claim to a world championship fight as interim WBC world champion. The association’s current champion is Oleksandr Usyk, who will put his WBC, WBO and WBA (Super) belts on the line in a rematch against Tyson Fury in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on December 21.
Then against Anthony Joshua?
“The WBC has received a formal request to authorize such a fight for the interim title. And the WBC will approve it,” its president Mauricio Sulaiman told Sky Sports. “There is no better fight than Usyk vs Fury. In view of this fight and other possibilities for the future, we have accepted the number 2 and number 3 for the interim title fight.” The winner of the duel would also get a fight against Anthony Joshua, explained Sulaiman.
The interim WBC champion will earn the right to challenge the winner of the Riyadh rematch at a later date in February. Kabayel is ranked second behind Fury in the WBC rankings, Zhang is third and Joshua sixth.
Text: Frank Schwantes
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